Customer Reviews

When the Sun Is the Moon

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

College Radio DJs stumble upon artists in the bottom of a bin of 100s of other CDs from indie-rocker wanna bees. We look for the pleasant surprise and hope that they will go somewhere when we find them. We root them on like a favorite basketball team. This DJ found Hudson Bell's, "Captain of the Old Girls" a few years ago and was stunned by its brilliant song-writer and great guitars. Hudson Bell takes a ballad and rips its out so that you actually feel the story he tells. I waited for his next one for far too long and found "When the Sun is the Moon" this October. I have heard people erroneously call it his debut (Buy "Captain" too!) The lyrics are stunning, gothic southern, and the fuzzy loud guitars don't tear you away from his poetics. Like Iron and Wine, My Morning Jacket, Damien Jurado, but much more electric, vibrant, and less polished...in a good way.

Such a good experience when you by accident stumble over a band like Hudson Bell. Beautiful beautiful songs wrapped up in a sound you didn't even knew you have missed for a long time. Hudson Bell is what I have hoped my old favorite band Rain Parade would have turned in to. I'm amazed - turned upside down - I admit, but put "When the sun is the moon" in your cd player and you will be to.

From the get-go this album grabs you and till the end manages to hold on to your anticipation. I enjoyed every song - and although there are only seven of them, they each have such dynamic structure that the album feels much longer. The opening song, Slow Burn, does this perfectly. I couldn't imagine a better way for this album to begin. It illustrates everything to follow. An obscure band like this I can't believe will stay out of the limelight forever. There are definitely radio worthy hits here, particularly the song Atlantis Nights. I would recommend this album to any rock, alt rock, or even some pop/rock fans.

I have to say that I agree completely with all of the other reviews, particularly by CA Funkhouser and Henrick Kock (thanks for the Rain Parade reference, one of my all-time favorite bands -- caught them at the 930 Club in DC back in the day. Very helpful in my decision to purchase this CD).
Listening to the album for the third time today, it's no surprise that every review so far has been 5 stars. I think any dedicated alt/indie listener will agree that Slow Burn (the first track) is an absolute classic. But fortunately, the CD continues to deliver all the way through to the final, 7th track (Sea Horse), which finishes the album on a high note. With their (not overpowering) psychedelic fuzz guitar, layered over by some very nice guitar work and very pleasing vocals, the CD is, well, just a pleasure to listen to. It's relatively short length of 39 minutes seems to fly by way too fast.
I'm not sure, but I think the band hails from the SF Bay area. If so, as a fellow Californian, I wish these guys would hit the road, and soon. Would love to catch them live. Definitely a fresh new sound to add to your collection. Pick it up.

I bought took interest in this item after hearing a song from it on Pandora. Getting it was a gamble with a big payoff! Lots of great songs if you like Built to Spill and/or Dinosaur Jr. as there are some parallels in style. Well worth buying for me!

This one will make your hair stand on end. The best record in your collection.
Exceptional.